Protecting apparatus for tramway-cars or similar vehicles.



No. 658,8!6. Patented dot. 2, 1900.

v A. mus.

PROTECTING APPARATUS FOR TRAMWAY CARS 0R SIMILAR VEHICLES.

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheetzr-Shaet I.

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N0. 658,8I6. Patented Oct. 2, I900. A. THIELS.

PROTECTING APPARATUS FOR TRAMWAY CARS 0R SIMILAR VEHICLES.

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFIC.

ALBERT THIELS, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY.

PROTECTING APPARATUS-FOR TRAMWAY-CARS 0R SIMILAR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,816, dated October 2, 1900.

Application filed November 21, 1899. Serial No. 737,801. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT THIELS, a citizen of the free city of Hamburg, residing at 7 Spatenteioh, Hamburg, in the Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protecting Apparatus for Tramway-Oars or Similar Vehicles, (for which I have applied for patents in Germany dated October 14, 1899; in Austria dated October 16, 1899; in Hungary, No. 15,840, dated October 18, 1899; in France, No. 281,640, dated October 21, 1899; in Belgium, No. 114,667, dated October 21, 1899, and in England, No. 20,994, dated October 20, 1899,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of a protecting apparatus to be attached to tramway-cars and similar vehicles, which while allowing small obstacles, such as stones and such like, to pass under the car prevents, however, larger bodies, such as men or animals, from getting under the wheels of the car. This is effected by providing a number of catching bars or tongues with movable bearings and strong springs which can be liberated in order that they can be lowered to the level of the track by an easily-actuated lever arrangement.

One method of carrying out this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus attached to a car, but out of action; Fig. 2, a partial plan View of the apparatus in its normal position, partly in section; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section in the liberated position, and Fig. 4 a partial plan view of the liberated apparatus.

As may be seen from the drawings, the catching bars or tongues b are movably inserted in a carrier 0., which is attached in any convenient manner to the car, the bars being limited in their movement or travel lengthwise by means of the wedges c and springs cl. The front ends of the catching-bars are suitably shaped in the form of a shoe and provided with yielding points 6, as may be seen from Fig. 3 of the drawings. To the carrier CtlS hinged a plate f, having at its loose ends a slightly-bent shoe 9 and adapted by means of one or more spiral springs 72 to place itself at right angles to the carrier at when it is liberated. This hinged plate f carries a connecting-piece i, to which is attached a pink, as may be seen from Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Underneath the footstep-boards Z or in other convenient position there is mounted a striking-barn, on which guidetongues 0 are arranged in suitable number and in appropriate distance from one another to serve as guides for the catching-bars I). Also below the footstep-boards Z are mounted, one on each side of the car, outwardlyextending lovers 1) and q. The lever q is furnished at one end with a hook 7. (See Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings.) The position of this hook r coincides with that of the pin it when the hinged plate fis in the turneddown position. A spring .9 presses the book 0" inward, while a chain 15 draws the outer end of the lever q in an opposite direction, the chain forming a connection between the leversp and g by means of yielding but easily-disconnected union-pieces u '0 when the lever q engages with the pin is.

I The catching-bars b are of special shape, rising in their middle part,-but horizontal at their ends, as shown in'Figs. l and 3.

The section of the protecting apparatus is as follows: The apparatus normally occupies the position shown in Figs; 1 and 2 of the drawings, the hinged plate fbeing pressed downward against the resistance of the spring h and is locked by means of the pin 70, the projection 'r of the lever q, and the chain 75. The depression of the hinged plate fcauses the catching-bars b to be raised, so that their middle part is held above the catching-railn and their points above the surface of the ground. The body of the car can under'these conditions follow without hindrance the rocking motions incidental to badly-laid rails or suddenly-occurring gradients without touching the pavement with the protecting apparatus.

Supposing now that a large object, which might bring the car into danger, or a person who might otherwise be run over, falls down at a short distance before the car, it or he will come into contact with the chain 15, causing the union-pieces u o to be separated. At the same moment the spring 3 will cause the projection r of the lever q to withdraw from the pin it, and the spring It will then press the hinged plate f upward. The catchingbars bare thereby liberated and lowered (see Fig. 3) in consequence of their weight to the surface of the ground, so that the body in question is caught up and cannot get under the wheels. During this operation the barn regulates the travel of the apparatus, While the yielding points 2 give way to slight irregularities in the pavement, and greater inequalities are prevented from interfering with the action of the apparatus by the upward movement of the central curved parts of the catching-bars b after overcoming the resistance of the springs d, as is shown somewhat exaggerated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. When it is desired to place the apparatus into position again, the chain union-pieces u and "U are again united, the hinged platef is pressed down by suitable gear operated by the driver, for example, and the lever (1 engages with the pin 70.

attached to said lever and provided with a diseonnecting-coupling, substantially as described.

- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ALB RT 'IHIELS. Witnesses:

FRITZ JACOB HENNINGSMEYER, E. H. L. MUMMENHOFF. 

